Aquamarigold

This giant shrub grows up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall and lives for around 28 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has numerous wide, crooked stems covered in hard, waxy, pine-coloured bark, and the wood inside is pine-coloured.

The branches are very long and slender with dozens of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of miniature, wispy, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are solid gold or turquoise, with purple dots, flexible and rough.

In early spring it produces thousands of medium-sized, dark grey blossoms with broad, flat petals. They are very delicate and have a weak scent that smells like glue.

In midwinter spear-shaped fruits ripen. The rubbery vivid blue skin is stretchy and edible when roasted; it is sweet, and the soft brown flesh is sour and very dry. The intense yellow seed is tiny and is in the centre of the fruit.